The look: Polished Prep

Proxmire has been outfitting the homes of Washington’s elite for more than 20 years, yet her take on traditional decor remains enlivened by touches such as citrus-hued printed fabrics and unexpected Lucite furniture. Beige is rarely a primary color for Proxmire, whose sprightly designs hark back to the whimsy of the South while maintaining the good bones of the North.

Livable Luxe

You may have noticed Darryl Carter’s sleek designs at one of DC’s new restaurants, Kinship. Photograph by Dan Chung.

Coated in Scandinavian whites, furnished with impeccable antiques, and designed with the je ne sais quois of Oscar Wilde-worthy French saloons, Carter’s imaginative decorating maintains a Zen-first attitude. He’s a born and bred Washingtonian who pushes the bluebloods out of their comfort zones and into much chicer digs. 1320 9th St NW, 202 234 5926.

The look: Contemporary Organic

Lauren Liess’s designs focus on natural details and user-friendly furnishings to make for a happy home. Photograph by Helen Norman.

Never have we lusted so hard for a home feature as we have for the outdoor shower Lauren Liess built for kicks in her Northern Virginia house. That’s indicative of Liess’s design ethos, which is that our homes should be happy-makers. Her rooms are full of natural details (wooden beams, chalky plaster, lush neutrals) and truly user-friendly furnishings.

The look: Boho Budget

For $130 an hour (or $349 for a three-hour stint), the Homepolish crew–which operates in 15 cities across the country–will rearrange furniture you already have, tackle design problem spots, or create an entire game plan for your space.

Hillary writes about interiors, real estate, arts, and culture. She is the former digital media editor of The New Republic, and her work has also been published in Glamour, The New York Times Book Review, and The Washington Post, among others. You can follow her on Instagram @hillarylouisekelly or on Pinterest @hlkelly.